New York Mets designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Absences, job security of Mets' Daniel Vogelbach explained

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jun 14, 2023 3:53 PM ET

New York Mets designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach apparently isn't available, isn't hitting the injured list and isn't going anywhere.

Mike Puma of the New York Post reported Wednesday that "Vogelbach has been receiving a mental break of sorts" during the club's latest stretch that has included a seven-game losing streak and dropping nine of its last 10 contests.

Vogelbach hasn't faced big-league pitching since last Wednesday's 7-5 defeat at the Atlanta Braves, and sources told Puma the 30-year-old is using this break to "get his swing right" amid ongoing calls from fans for the Mets to release the left-handed hitter.

MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY tweeted that "Vogelbach’s roster spot is not in jeopardy right now." It's unclear when or if that could change, but there's no indication the Mets are considering placing Vogelbach on the IL for any reason.

Vogelbach was left out of the lineup for Wednesday's home game against the New York Yankees. The Mets fell to the Yankees 7-6 on Tuesday evening.

Vogelbach noticeably slimmed down this past offseason after the Mets picked up his $1.5M club option for 2023 but has struggled this year. He began Wednesday slashing a woeful .203/.343/.297/.639 with just two home runs and 14 RBI across 47 games, 143 plate appearances and 118 at-bats this season. SNY's Alex Smith mentioned that Vogelbach went 3-for-33 with one RBI and 12 strikeouts in 10 starts that preceded this latest hiatus.

"Listening to Daniel talk about it publicly but also talking to him privately, he was right, he’s hitting the ball as hard as he ever has in his career," Mets general manager Billy Eppler said about Vogelbach earlier this month, per Will Sammon of The Athletic. "It’s just a matter of a trajectory aspect, the plate discipline is still there. He’s aware of it. He knows. And he cares. So I know he’s going to give all of his effort to getting that batted-ball profile back to his accustomed level, back to what it was last season or even recent seasons in the past. We’re here to help him every which way we can and use all of our resources to getting him back to optimal."

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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